For the world’s wealthiest travelers, luxury means access: places few can reach and experiences very few can arrange. The ultimate symbol of this lifestyle? A superyacht, of course. A weekly charter—with rates ranging from $50,000 to $4.1 million—completely redefines any dream trip thanks to custom itineraries, expert-guided excursions, and first-class hospitality.
Here are some of the most extraordinary adventures available to charter guests, starting with an underwater exploration in the South Pacific…
Diving among sunken relics from World War II
For wreck diving enthusiasts—and history buffs—the Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands are must-visit destinations. These remote Pacific archipelagos are home to the world’s largest concentration of submerged World War II relics, with hundreds of wrecks scattered across the seabed, where history and marine life converge in spectacular fashion.
For decades, U.S. fighter jets, cargo ships, and Japanese vessels have been transformed into artificial reefs covered in coral and surrounded by schools of tropical fish. For divers, the experience is as awe-inspiring as it is fascinating.
“The combination of marine life and history is what makes diving on World War II wrecks so special,” explains Captain Emile of the ‘Douce France,’ the world’s largest catamaran schooner, measuring 42.2 meters in length. “These wrecks are like time capsules that transport divers back to those heroic battles, while they gaze upon reefs teeming with coral and marine life.”
On board, guests have access to a fully equipped dive center, a dedicated instructor, and a wide selection of water toys, allowing them to alternate between technical dives on shipwrecks and more relaxed days exploring tropical lagoons.
“There aren’t many remote cruise destinations that really have it all,” adds Captain Emile. “But the Solomon and Marshall Islands might be one of them.”
Swimming with whale sharks in Indonesia
Encounters with these gentle giants are part of the itinerary aboard ‘The Maj Oceanic,’ a traditional Indonesian phinisi designed for exploration. Thanks to the crew’s deep local knowledge, guests gain access to hidden anchorages and wildlife encounters far from the usual tourist routes of Komodo, Raja Ampat, and the Lesser Sunda Islands.
One of the most memorable moments takes place off the coast of Sumbawa, where traditional fishing platforms known as bagans attract whale sharks that feed near the surface on small shrimp called ebi. At dawn, guests set out in a tender to dive into the tropical waters and come face to face with these enormous creatures.
“Swimming with whale sharks in Sumbawa is always a special experience,” says the yacht’s cruise director. “Being in the water alongside such immense and peaceful creatures instills a deep sense of respect for the ocean.”
Sightings are possible year-round, although the best conditions are usually between April and November, when the sea is calmer and rich in plankton.
In Search of the Midnight Sun in Svalbard
What could top the Arctic Circle on a bucket list? Svalbard is the gateway to this extreme region. Accessible from Norway, this archipelago offers monumental glaciers, drifting ice fields, and encounters with wildlife so cinematic they seem unreal.
To cross this destination off your list, you’ll need an ice-class vessel. The ‘Vikingfjord,’ with its distinctive cherry-red hull, is specifically designed for polar conditions, allowing access to remote fjords and isolated bays that are inaccessible to many ships and most conventional yachts.
“Sailing through Svalbard is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says guest Stephanie Archer. “Every day brought incredible encounters with Arctic wildlife, including polar bears and walruses, accompanied by polar experts who turned every outing into a genuine learning experience.”
Guests explore the area in Zodiacs, gliding silently among glaciers and ice floes while spotting seals, puffins, arctic foxes, and reindeer. A nighttime excursion proved particularly unforgettable for Archer.
“We broke through the floating ice and, from a safe distance, saw a female polar bear emerge with her two cubs,” he recalls. “It was like watching a private nature documentary.”
After diving into the nearly frozen waters of the Arctic, guests return to the hot tub and sauna on the ‘Vikingfjord’ before retiring under a sky perpetually illuminated by a sun suspended on the horizon.
Crossing the Panama Canal
The entire journey through the Panama Canal takes less than ten hours, but this legendary waterway spans two oceans, dense rainforests, and a complex system of locks, offering guests a unique perspective on one of the world’s greatest engineering feats.
And the itinerary aboard the ‘Lady B’—an elegant Benetti with capacity for 12 guests—takes the experience far beyond that of any conventional Panama cruise.
The adventure begins in Costa Rica with a visit to the lesser-known Cahuita National Park, crisscrossed by trails and channels inhabited by leatherback turtles. The superyacht then spends several days sailing among uninhabited islands before reaching the final leg of the journey to the San Blas Islands.
This archipelago of small, palm-fringed islands scattered across the Caribbean allows guests to swim and snorkel among vibrant reefs and immerse themselves in the laid-back island lifestyle before reluctantly returning to the mainland.
Recently undergoing a complete renovation, ‘Lady B’ offers “everything one could wish for” to make this trip an unforgettable experience, according to her broker. Among the new features are an indoor gym equipped with the latest Technogym technology and a spectacular lap pool.
For an even more exclusive experience, ‘Lady B’ can be chartered alongside ‘Doc Z,’ a 25-meter Viking support yacht that increases capacity to 17 guests and adds sportfishing excursions to the itinerary.
Competing in Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
This charter is designed for those who would gladly trade the onboard spa for an adrenaline rush and a splash of saltwater on deck. Few nautical experiences can rival Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, especially aboard a superyacht that evokes the golden age of classic sailing.
At 55 meters in length, ‘Elena of London’ boasts an imposing silhouette thanks to her elegant overhangs and her striking wooden mast. She is a faithful recreation of the legendary schooner designed in 1910 by Nathanael Herreshoff, the renowned American naval architect who built vessels for leading figures of the American elite, from railroad magnate Jay Gould to William Randolph Hearst.
The original yacht ‘Elena’ made history after winning the 1928 transatlantic King’s Cup, setting a record between New York and Santander. Today, guests can experience that legacy by participating in one of the most anticipated regattas in the Mediterranean.
“Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez is a living archive of classic sailing,” explains charter manager Massima Piras. “There are few better ways to experience its magic than by competing aboard ‘Elena of London.’ She was built for racing.”
The days unfold beneath a vast canopy of sails in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, surrounded by a fleet of historic classic sailboats. Guests can even take the helm alongside the captain and participate directly in the competition. As night falls, the regatta moves ashore, where the port of Saint-Tropez transforms into a glittering showcase of the Riviera, featuring champagne receptions by the sea.
